The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-12-27
BEN FRAN KILN.
Ills Gift TO Ills Namcsake in/Massn'
chusetts.

ridA from Boston, on the New York
and New England railroad. Is one Of
the Oldest libraries in New England. If
not thb Oldest. says q correspondent Of
The New York Erentng Post II was
given to the town by Benjamin Frank
lin in 1856, hundred years ago last
year. fact not considered by the local
authorities of sufficient Importance to
Go observed as centennial event
Hardly more than n bare allusion is
made to this gift by Franklin in any of
his Biographies. but having seen the
statement when lad that Franklin.
when notified that the authorities had
honored him with naming the town
after him, and they would be pleased
TO receive n gift of bell, replied that
he preferred sense to sound, he would
present them with Il library, went out
to Franklin TO see how much truth
there was in the statement and TO learn
if the library was still in existence.
There is no record that Franklin wrote
such reply, but there is n tradition
that he did.
He made donation OF over hun
dred volumes, and about two-thirds of
the number still remsin in state of
good preservation--an almost incred,-
BILE fact when we know the great pas
sion for collecting books of rare dates
and the carelessness of the people hay
isg small libraries in charge The
selection was delegated by Franklin to
his friend and admirer. DIR. Price, of
London The books are largely works
on the theological and religious sub
iecls Perhaps this may account for
the fact of their being in such excellent
state of preservation Rev. Dr.. En-.
mons, the minister in Franklin at the
time, became the custodian of the
books, and no one was allowed to read
them unless he was n member of his
church. After the doctors death the
library appears to have dropped out OF
sight and recollection. The books
were finally found slowed away in
someone's barn, from which they were
rescued, and they now form part of
the town library, where they can be
seen, but no one is allowed 10 take
them from the room. They are in the
original covers. and some OF them
were printed in London more than
three hundred years ago. Their age,
and the associations connected with
them. make them of historical value.
and they would bring n large price if
offered for sale; but for the honor of
the towh it is hoped no such event will
happen.
The Boston public library contains
about every biography of the great
philosopher that has been publ shed,
and everything that he wrote that
could be obtained. Among the man,
quaint volumes are wcnty-one OF
"Poor Richards Almanac" twelve of
them beginning with the year 1884,
bear the imprint of b. Franklin and ID.
Hall, Philadelphia, printers and sellers.
The other volumes were printed and
sold by ID. Hall and w. Sellers. and it is
evident by the contents that Franklin
had very little to do with the prepare
ton Of them. In the number for 174S
there is this aluson to party politics;
son the "a OF November, l64l. long
parliament met, which began the great
rebellion. rs some call il. or the
glorious opposition 10 arb irary power
rs Others term il; for to this day
partly divides us under this head, and
we are not-perhaps we should be
agreed TO ii. Party. says one, is the
madness of many for the gain of the
few TO which may be added there
are honest men in all parties, wise men
in none, unless those be called wise for
whose profit the rest are mad D." In the
Issue of 1860 Poor Richard says: "Whl
the political itch proves n dangerous
distemper TO most that are influenced
thereto nothing is more certain that
that the study ofpolitcs disorders more
heads Chan il regulates, because IL re-
quires degree of application to which
but few have opportunities of acqu r
ing
Passing through Milk street, where
read this inscription over the door OF
The Boston Post: birthplace of Frank
lin" and then into School street,
where. in front of the city hall, stands
the counterfeit presentment of The be
nign philosopher himself could moi
help thinking how much of the
spirit of Boston even down Ia
the present time was portray
ed in the life of Franklin. Hi,
wise and economic maxims could
hardly have originated with anyone
not Boston born. and if he had not
lived in Boston there would never have
been Poor Richard TO remind H.
That he. who by the pillow would
thr We. himself must either hold OF
drive" The frugalily and industry OK
empllicd in Franklin's | fe finds -
parallel in the career of every successful
Boslonian of the old school. Count
ing the pennies, doing small things